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chazbats's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
carolineroche's review against another edition
4.0
This is an excellent book, combining both dystopia and what it is like to be a refugee. However, [a:Gillian Cross|40051|Gillian Cross|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1241510299p2/40051.jpg] has been very clever in that the people who are forced to flee their country are British children, forced out by a banking crisis which has collapsed all the major banks and causing a food and fuel crisis. The family flees to France, where they live and try to survive in a refugee camp. This brilliantly brings to life that refugees are just like us, they can be us under different and very believable circumstances, and is great for helping students to understand just what being a refugee entails. A great read!
rosieloudonson's review against another edition
3.0
A very unique, futuristic novel about English refugees living in a camp in France. It really shines light on the difficulties of being a refugee in foreign country and the characters experience problems such as communication and health issues in a different country. Very original, I have never read a book like it. I lived the adventure side of it but thought the style was a little basic. I think the novel would be more appropriate for younger readers.
chloenm3's review against another edition
2.0
Very anti-climatic, felt no connection to the characters - definitely a child's book would probably recommend to an eleven year old boy. Just not my story wasn't too bothered about the ending, if anything, I would have liked to have known more about what was happening with the mum and what actually caused these things to happen because it just seemed that people couldn't afford food?! But just 1 star this time.
missevey's review against another edition
4.0
What is life like for refugees, forced to abandon their possessions and flee their country for their lives to continue? How about life in Calais camp? An evoking story to help you view the plight of so many in this day an age through the eyes of a child - a British child...
alishaduh's review against another edition
2.0
I had to read this book for the Hampshire book awards 2014 - I couldn't finish this book!
At first I thought the story was quite interesting, about what would happen if all the major banks crashed and how people would survive,but as the story progressed it went downhill, at first all the raids and what happened to Justin was a little bit freaky but then as soon as the got over to France it was rather boring. It got slow paced and nothing adventurous really happened till the end!
I have read some of Gillian cross' other books and have really liked them however this one didn't grab my expectations unfortunately.
At first I thought the story was quite interesting, about what would happen if all the major banks crashed and how people would survive,but as the story progressed it went downhill, at first all the raids and what happened to Justin was a little bit freaky but then as soon as the got over to France it was rather boring. It got slow paced and nothing adventurous really happened till the end!
I have read some of Gillian cross' other books and have really liked them however this one didn't grab my expectations unfortunately.
lottiedollar's review against another edition
Very good book, enjoyed very much and left me feeling motivated to carry on reading. Also made me appreciate everything I have.
pipsqueakchubby's review against another edition
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
books17's review against another edition
2.0
It was okay. Matt, his step-dad Justin and little brother Taco have to flee England to France due to an ambiguous apocalypse. Some banks crashed, and this somehow means that The Government can't afford to police the country anymore and everyone has no food? And so chaos.
I was really expecting it to be more about the two brothers trying to escape to France and all the trials and tribulations they'd go through during the endeavour, but they get to France pretty much no worries and the rest of the novel is just a survival drama in the refugee camp - something I usually am a fan of, but it was pretty dry and boring. The characters were fine - just very, very bland. And for a YA novel with quite a few dark themes running through it, it felt incredibly toothless at times, no real consequences going around other than light theft.
If it wasn't short enough to knock off in an afternoon I doubt I would have bothered finishing it.
I was really expecting it to be more about the two brothers trying to escape to France and all the trials and tribulations they'd go through during the endeavour, but they get to France pretty much no worries and the rest of the novel is just a survival drama in the refugee camp - something I usually am a fan of, but it was pretty dry and boring. The characters were fine - just very, very bland. And for a YA novel with quite a few dark themes running through it
Spoiler
Including the heavily implied rape of Matt's motherIf it wasn't short enough to knock off in an afternoon I doubt I would have bothered finishing it.